HOW CLOSE ARE WE?
I think we're closer than we've been since the lockout began. Lawyers from both sides spent 11-hours together on Wednesday spelling out the legalese needed to write the final agreement. The usual faces will return for Thursday & Friday's negotiating sessions including Roger Goodell & DeMaurice Smith. I think we could see an announcement of a handshake deal by Sunday for several reasons. First off, the federal judge who has supervised these sit-downs since the beginning, Arthur Boylan, leaves for his summer vacation on Saturday. If things fall apart over the next few days, I expect another judge to be appointed so someone responsible can ride herd over this 3-ring circus. That could easily cause another delay so the replacement magistrate is brought up to speed. Secondly, any disruption of the pre-season schedule will not only cost the league about $200 million a week, but the players will see an immediate drop in the salary cap as part of the equation for setting it is derived from pre-season revenues. Neither side wants to lose any of these games. Finally, so many free agents, over 400, are desperate to find where they'll be playing in 2011. Free agency can't begin until the new CBA is ratified.
I was asked today what I expect to see in this CBA? Here is my best guess;
An 8-year agreement
Players will receive 46.5 to 48% of the league's total revenue
A rookie wage scale that will see 1st & 2nd round rookie signing bonuses drop about 35%
The money saved in the rookie wage scale will be distributed to veterans with more than 5-years service
All rookie contracts will be 4-years with unrestricted free agency after the first contract.
The franchise tag will remain unchanged but may not be used in two consecutive years on the same player
Mandatory off-season workouts will be reduced by 25% & the break from the end of the season will increase by 4 full weeks before players will be required to participate in team-sponsored activities.
The Thursday night television package will be expanded from 8 games to 16. Half the slate will remain with the NFL Network, the other half will auctioned off to the highest bidder, those telecasts to begin in 2012.
Because of the shortened off-season, I expect expanded training camp rosters for this season only. I think it will be in the neighborhood of 90-players.
The salary cap will be $120 million this season & every team must use 95% of their cap space every year.
An increase in health care benefits for retired NFL players with 4 or more years of service will be in this agreement. I expect those benefits to begin immediately after retirement & the panel that O.K.'s these benefits to be swift in approving said benefits.
I haven't a clue regarding the drug policy, I'd like to see it remain the same, but even if it does, I expect an outsider to administer both punishment & appeals, no longer in the hands of the commissioner.
One of the last items is the revenue sharing plan amongst the owners, it should stay as is. But there are a number of big-market teams that don't want to share some of their income & this could result in an unbalanced situation that will make a few smaller market teams less competitive than they already find themselves. That would be a friggin' pity, it could move the NFL closer to Major league Baseball. That is exactly what makes the National Football League so great, literally everyone has a shot at the title which isn't the case in MLB.
Keep your fingers crossed gang, we're closer than we've been since the lockout began some 117-days ago.
A couple of Mizzou Tigers made the initial lists for the Mackey Award(best tight end) & the Biletnikoff Award(best wide receiver) on Wednesday. Tight end Michael Egnew, the only returning 2010 finalist for the Mackey Award, made the list & barring injury, I think he has a better than even-money chance to win in 2011. He honestly should have won last year. Don't call me a "homer," Egnew caught 90 passes & 5 TD's while the winner, Arkansas' D.J. Williams caught only 54 & scored just 4 times. Both teams had highly rated quarterbacks & numerous wideouts who produced big numbers. Speaking of wideouts, Mizzou's T.J. Moe made the pre-season Biletnikoff Award list. Despite catching 92 passes for 6 touchdowns, Moe faces a steep uphill battle for this coveted trophy. Other serious contenders include Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles, South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, Iowa's Marvin McNutt & Arkansas' Greg Childs.
Michael Egnew T.J. Moe
I was asked today what I expect to see in this CBA? Here is my best guess;
An 8-year agreement
Players will receive 46.5 to 48% of the league's total revenue
A rookie wage scale that will see 1st & 2nd round rookie signing bonuses drop about 35%
The money saved in the rookie wage scale will be distributed to veterans with more than 5-years service
All rookie contracts will be 4-years with unrestricted free agency after the first contract.
The franchise tag will remain unchanged but may not be used in two consecutive years on the same player
Mandatory off-season workouts will be reduced by 25% & the break from the end of the season will increase by 4 full weeks before players will be required to participate in team-sponsored activities.
The Thursday night television package will be expanded from 8 games to 16. Half the slate will remain with the NFL Network, the other half will auctioned off to the highest bidder, those telecasts to begin in 2012.
Because of the shortened off-season, I expect expanded training camp rosters for this season only. I think it will be in the neighborhood of 90-players.
The salary cap will be $120 million this season & every team must use 95% of their cap space every year.
An increase in health care benefits for retired NFL players with 4 or more years of service will be in this agreement. I expect those benefits to begin immediately after retirement & the panel that O.K.'s these benefits to be swift in approving said benefits.
I haven't a clue regarding the drug policy, I'd like to see it remain the same, but even if it does, I expect an outsider to administer both punishment & appeals, no longer in the hands of the commissioner.
One of the last items is the revenue sharing plan amongst the owners, it should stay as is. But there are a number of big-market teams that don't want to share some of their income & this could result in an unbalanced situation that will make a few smaller market teams less competitive than they already find themselves. That would be a friggin' pity, it could move the NFL closer to Major league Baseball. That is exactly what makes the National Football League so great, literally everyone has a shot at the title which isn't the case in MLB.
Keep your fingers crossed gang, we're closer than we've been since the lockout began some 117-days ago.
A couple of Mizzou Tigers made the initial lists for the Mackey Award(best tight end) & the Biletnikoff Award(best wide receiver) on Wednesday. Tight end Michael Egnew, the only returning 2010 finalist for the Mackey Award, made the list & barring injury, I think he has a better than even-money chance to win in 2011. He honestly should have won last year. Don't call me a "homer," Egnew caught 90 passes & 5 TD's while the winner, Arkansas' D.J. Williams caught only 54 & scored just 4 times. Both teams had highly rated quarterbacks & numerous wideouts who produced big numbers. Speaking of wideouts, Mizzou's T.J. Moe made the pre-season Biletnikoff Award list. Despite catching 92 passes for 6 touchdowns, Moe faces a steep uphill battle for this coveted trophy. Other serious contenders include Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles, South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, Iowa's Marvin McNutt & Arkansas' Greg Childs.
Michael Egnew T.J. Moe
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